Posted by deuceO on Apr 09, 2007 · Member since Nov 2006 · 548 posts
My DH and I are going to Mexico in a few days, we leave Saturday. We'll be in Puerto Vallarta. Has anyone been here? Do they have a lot of veg*n food?
Posted by pineappleprincess on Apr 09, 2007 · Member since Aug 2006 · 885 posts
I'm super jealous. I've never been to Puerto Vallarta, but I was all over Jalisco, Michoacan, Colima, and Manzanillo. My experience is that it is a beautiful country and the people are very friendly. There is lots to see and do, however, vegan food can be hard to find.
I guess it depends on where you are staying. If you're going to a resort you might have some better luck as far as restaurants go, but I was kind of out in the sticks staying with locals.
If you can find a street vendor that sells tacos de nopales (cactus), I thought those were pretty good. Some places make bean and potato tacos, though they tend to fry the beans in lard. If you can cook/eat yourselves, there was lots of good fresh produce.
Some places along the side of the road sell coconuts that they keep cold and you just hack the top off and drink the water with a straw. Then you can eat the coconut with chile and lime, which is very good. Also, many places in the towns I visited sold agua fresca, which is like a fresh fruit drink made with fruit and water. Sometimes you can pick out the fruits you want and they'll make it for you right there.
Sometimes in the fancier restaurants, you can ask for a plate of cut-up fruits and vegetables (jicama, cucumber, mango, melon, papaya, guava, etc) with chile and lime. And there's always chips and salsa. Other things I've ordered include tostadas with guacamole and plain fresh tortillas with onions, salsa, avocado, and lettuce.
One place in Guadalajara made vegetable fajitas, but they don't call them fajitas anywhere I was, it's called paradillas.
Again, I don't know how much help this will be because much of what I encountered in various places seemed to be local. But good luck and have fun!
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Posted by hopfrog on Apr 09, 2007 · Member since Sep 2004 · 905 posts
I've never been, but I always check out Happy Cow's listings before I travel. Sometimes not everything is 100% accurate, but it gives you a good place to start. Here is a link to Puerto Vallarta's offerings:
Posted by asenath on Apr 09, 2007 · Member since Nov 2005 · 167 posts
Wow, what fun! I've never been to Puerto Vallarta, but I've been to Mexico three times. The food varies wildly based on the region, of course, but Puerto Vallarta is a big city. They probably have every kind of food you can imagine. In a pinch, you can always get some fresh fruit from a vendor--anything you peel yourself--and bread from a bakery. Have fun!
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Posted by Anonymous on Apr 09, 2007 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
I am from Mexico and it can get a little tricky trying to find food down there. I did find that they make what are called "Memelas" with "nopales" or cactus as said by PINEAPPLEPRINCESS. Mostly every thing else though is fried with lard. They can though make potatos and beans. You can also get the famous tortas - these are a great meal in itself. Avocado, beans, etc...just ask them to skip the meat and you might ask them if the beans were cooked in lard. There is also the juguerias (juice stores) and they can whip lovely medleys with papaya, mamey, mango, carrot, jicama, pepino...anything and even make it into a juice. Have tons of fun - I am sure you will because Vallarta is so awesome. BUENA SUERTE!!!
Posted by deuceO on Apr 10, 2007 · Member since Nov 2006 · 548 posts
Thanks everyone! We are staying at a holistic resort (Dreams) so perhaps they will have lots of food options. I'm so excited and the food you all are talking about sounds great! Potato tacos? Mmmm-Mmmm!!!
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Posted by Anonymous on Apr 10, 2007 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
have fun
vegetariasm is pretty unheard of in most of mexico, although you should be able to find some things
but as was mentioned, pretty much all the beans and tortillas will have lard in them
Posted by deuceO on Apr 10, 2007 · Member since Nov 2006 · 548 posts
have fun
vegetariasm is pretty unheard of in most of mexico, although you should be able to find some things but as was mentioned, pretty much all the beans and tortillas will have lard in them
That seems so strange to me, Adam. I mean, I believe it but I always thought the country of Mexico didn't eat much meat simply because it is expensive. Guess it has been "Americanized" too though. I'm sure I won't starve, I could live of chips and salsa if I had to! ;D
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Posted by veronica66 on Apr 10, 2007 · Member since May 2006 · 74 posts
ive been to pv twice- once as a carnivore 2 years ago and last july as a vegan. i ate a lot of veggie fajitas with guacamole when my daughter and i went in july. however, i suspect the tortillas were fried in lard, but thats all they had. cheese, meat, and lard, are in everything so i also did a lot of cooking in the condo that we rented. i also suspect that the guacamole may have had cream in it because it was too creamy, but i did my best. i would try to stick to rice, salsa, and bagged chips. the beans even have beef stock and/or fried in lard- so good luck. you will have fun despite the fact that you will lose weight. we were there for a week and i loss about 11 pounds!
have fun veronica
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Posted by TinTexas on Apr 10, 2007 · Member since Aug 2006 · 1216 posts
Thanks everyone! We are staying at a holistic resort (Dreams) so perhaps they will have lots of food options. I'm so excited and the food you all are talking about sounds great! Potato tacos? Mmmm-Mmmm!!!
You can't email or phone them and ask? If they call themselves a "holistic resort", they should have some healthy food available. Healthy as I define it is no meat, eggs or dairy products, of course, and whole grain. ;)
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Posted by Anonymous on Apr 10, 2007 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
actually theyre not as "americanized" as youd think (at least in the areas Ive been to) Not alot of chain stores, lots of local and mom and pop stores and restauraunts, where america is all chain store here, chain store there, fast food, wal mart...all that crap
plus I believe that animals in mexico are probably treated better than in the US, as far as animal agriculture goes. (even though I have no proof of this, just a hunch)
also I forgot to mention that they cook their rice many times in chicken or beef broth
teres only so much one can do, and I thnk thats a decision each one of us has to deal with in our own way. how far do we want to go and how much effort to put in. I mean, you could probably just eat fruits and veggies the whole time youre there
anyways, have a good time
have fun
vegetariasm is pretty unheard of in most of mexico, although you should be able to find some things but as was mentioned, pretty much all the beans and tortillas will have lard in them
That seems so strange to me, Adam. I mean, I believe it but I always thought the country of Mexico didn't eat much meat simply because it is expensive. Guess it has been "Americanized" too though. I'm sure I won't starve, I could live of chips and salsa if I had to! ;D
Posted by sfreiberg on Jan 08, 2009 · Member since Jul 2008 · 6 posts
HELPPPPPPP!!!! I am studying in Mexico next semester and I'm excited about the experience, but VERY nervous about what I am going to eat! I am staying with a Mexican family and they are supposed to cook all of my meals for me. There was a place on the application to list dietary restrictions and it said that they would accommodate. Naturally, I attached a page-long list of what I do not eat. When I was in El Salvador for a weak as a lacto-vegetarian (now I'm vegan) I would tell them that I was vegetarian and they would ask me if I wanted chicken or fish. Fortunately I am proficient in Spanish so I can explain what I do not eat. But I am afraid that it would be rude, especially in Mexican culture, to refuse the food that they serve me. In a country where vegetarianism is not very widespread YET I do not necessarily expect them to understand my lifestyle. So what do I do if they serve a dish with cheese or lard? What's the best way to explain veganism to them? Should I just ask for raw fruit and veggies for every meal? I'm so worried! :-[
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Posted by Meggs on Jan 08, 2009 · Member since Jun 2007 · 3572 posts
Explain vegetarianism and then tell them you're allergic to dairy? :-\
It's going to be an awesome experience, though!
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Posted by Saskia on Oct 19, 2009 · Member since Jan 2007 · 1976 posts
Please help. I'm going on a Puerto Vallarta trip and don't know where to eat, restaurants to dine at. Any recommendations?
I e-mailed a couple of restaurant owners in Spanish but they had a difficult time grasping food w/out eggs, meat, dairy and manteca.
I'm super jealous. I've never been to Puerto Vallarta, but I was all over Jalisco, Michoacan, Colima, and Manzanillo. My experience is that it is a beautiful country and the people are very friendly. There is lots to see and do, however, vegan food can be hard to find.
I guess it depends on where you are staying. If you're going to a resort you might have some better luck as far as restaurants go, but I was kind of out in the sticks staying with locals.
If you can find a street vendor that sells tacos de nopales (cactus), I thought those were pretty good. Some places make bean and potato tacos, though they tend to fry the beans in lard. If you can cook/eat yourselves, there was lots of good fresh produce.
Some places along the side of the road sell coconuts that they keep cold and you just hack the top off and drink the water with a straw. Then you can eat the coconut with chile and lime, which is very good. Also, many places in the towns I visited sold agua fresca, which is like a fresh fruit drink made with fruit and water. Sometimes you can pick out the fruits you want and they'll make it for you right there.
Sometimes in the fancier restaurants, you can ask for a plate of cut-up fruits and vegetables (jicama, cucumber, mango, melon, papaya, guava, etc) with chile and lime. And there's always chips and salsa. Other things I've ordered include tostadas with guacamole and plain fresh tortillas with onions, salsa, avocado, and lettuce.
One place in Guadalajara made vegetable fajitas, but they don't call them fajitas anywhere I was, it's called paradillas.
Again, I don't know how much help this will be because much of what I encountered in various places seemed to be local. But good luck and have fun!
I've never been, but I always check out Happy Cow's listings before I travel. Sometimes not everything is 100% accurate, but it gives you a good place to start. Here is a link to Puerto Vallarta's offerings:
http://www.happycow.net/north_america/mexico/puerto_vallarta/index.html
Elizabeth
Wow, what fun! I've never been to Puerto Vallarta, but I've been to Mexico three times. The food varies wildly based on the region, of course, but Puerto Vallarta is a big city. They probably have every kind of food you can imagine. In a pinch, you can always get some fresh fruit from a vendor--anything you peel yourself--and bread from a bakery. Have fun!
I am from Mexico and it can get a little tricky trying to find food down there. I did find that they make what are called "Memelas" with "nopales" or cactus as said by PINEAPPLEPRINCESS. Mostly every thing else though is fried with lard. They can though make potatos and beans.
You can also get the famous tortas - these are a great meal in itself. Avocado, beans, etc...just ask them to skip the meat and you might ask them if the beans were cooked in lard.
There is also the juguerias (juice stores) and they can whip lovely medleys with papaya, mamey, mango, carrot, jicama, pepino...anything and even make it into a juice.
Have tons of fun - I am sure you will because Vallarta is so awesome.
BUENA SUERTE!!!
Thanks everyone! We are staying at a holistic resort (Dreams) so perhaps they will have lots of food options. I'm so excited and the food you all are talking about sounds great! Potato tacos? Mmmm-Mmmm!!!
have fun
vegetariasm is pretty unheard of in most of mexico, although you should be able to find some things
but as was mentioned, pretty much all the beans and tortillas will have lard in them
have fun
vegetariasm is pretty unheard of in most of mexico, although you should be able to find some things
but as was mentioned, pretty much all the beans and tortillas will have lard in them
That seems so strange to me, Adam. I mean, I believe it but I always thought the country of Mexico didn't eat much meat simply because it is expensive. Guess it has been "Americanized" too though. I'm sure I won't starve, I could live of chips and salsa if I had to! ;D
ive been to pv twice- once as a carnivore 2 years ago and last july as a vegan. i ate a lot of veggie fajitas with guacamole when my daughter and i went in july. however, i suspect the tortillas were fried in lard, but thats all they had. cheese, meat, and lard, are in everything so i also did a lot of cooking in the condo that we rented. i also suspect that the guacamole may have had cream in it because it was too creamy, but i did my best. i would try to stick to rice, salsa, and bagged chips. the beans even have beef stock and/or fried in lard- so good luck. you will have fun despite the fact that you will lose weight. we were there for a week and i loss about 11 pounds!
have fun
veronica
Thanks everyone! We are staying at a holistic resort (Dreams) so perhaps they will have lots of food options. I'm so excited and the food you all are talking about sounds great! Potato tacos? Mmmm-Mmmm!!!
You can't email or phone them and ask? If they call themselves a "holistic resort", they should have some healthy food available. Healthy as I define it is no meat, eggs or dairy products, of course, and whole grain. ;)
actually theyre not as "americanized" as youd think (at least in the areas Ive been to) Not alot of chain stores, lots of local and mom and pop stores and restauraunts, where america is all chain store here, chain store there, fast food, wal mart...all that crap
plus I believe that animals in mexico are probably treated better than in the US, as far as animal agriculture goes. (even though I have no proof of this, just a hunch)
also I forgot to mention that they cook their rice many times in chicken or beef broth
teres only so much one can do, and I thnk thats a decision each one of us has to deal with in our own way. how far do we want to go and how much effort to put in. I mean, you could probably just eat fruits and veggies the whole time youre there
anyways, have a good time
have fun
vegetariasm is pretty unheard of in most of mexico, although you should be able to find some things
but as was mentioned, pretty much all the beans and tortillas will have lard in them
That seems so strange to me, Adam. I mean, I believe it but I always thought the country of Mexico didn't eat much meat simply because it is expensive. Guess it has been "Americanized" too though. I'm sure I won't starve, I could live of chips and salsa if I had to! ;D
HELPPPPPPP!!!! I am studying in Mexico next semester and I'm excited about the experience, but VERY nervous about what I am going to eat! I am staying with a Mexican family and they are supposed to cook all of my meals for me. There was a place on the application to list dietary restrictions and it said that they would accommodate. Naturally, I attached a page-long list of what I do not eat. When I was in El Salvador for a weak as a lacto-vegetarian (now I'm vegan) I would tell them that I was vegetarian and they would ask me if I wanted chicken or fish. Fortunately I am proficient in Spanish so I can explain what I do not eat. But I am afraid that it would be rude, especially in Mexican culture, to refuse the food that they serve me. In a country where vegetarianism is not very widespread YET I do not necessarily expect them to understand my lifestyle. So what do I do if they serve a dish with cheese or lard? What's the best way to explain veganism to them? Should I just ask for raw fruit and veggies for every meal? I'm so worried! :-[
Explain vegetarianism and then tell them you're allergic to dairy? :-\
It's going to be an awesome experience, though!
Please help. I'm going on a Puerto Vallarta trip and don't know where to eat, restaurants to dine at. Any recommendations?
I e-mailed a couple of restaurant owners in Spanish but they had a difficult time grasping food w/out eggs, meat, dairy and manteca.